Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-03-23
MORE LAW FOR IRELAND.

The English Government showing Its
observation-disclosures of the National
League-John Morley Moves the
rejection of the Question of
"Urgency.''
LONDON, March 22.-In the House to-day
Mr.. William Henry Smith, first lord of the
treasury, moved that the government crimi-
nal law amendment bill have preference over
all order of the day. sIreland." he said,
was il disorganized state and the govern
ment under strong sense of public duty
was bound ostake action in the direction of
restoring order. The details of the measure
would be stated at the proper time by the
chief secretary for ireland, but what he now
wished to speak about, in short to urge, was
the necessity for the measure and the vital
Importance of its becoming law" Regard
ing the amendment offered by Mr.. Morley
Mr.. Smith said he wished to remind the
House that Mr.. Gladstone had opposed an
amendment exactly similar in 1881. The
present position of the government
was the same as Mr.. Gladstone's
position was at that time. Concern
ing the governments land bill he said
it would be divided into two parts, one to be
introduced at once; the other, a land pur-
chase bill of wide scope, later on. Both
would be framed upon principles of honesty
and justice; but, he said, there was no hope
whatever that any measure formulated upon
those lines would give satisfaction to the
National league, the sole cause of all the
disorganization and disorder. Having in all
fairness and justice prepared this bill with
the single purpose of restoring tranquility
to Ireland the government on event of the
refusal of the House to pass the measure,
would ask the country to confirm their poll
cy, or to relieve them of further response
bility.
Mr.. John Morley moved that the House
reject the question of urgency introduced by
Mr.. Smith, and in support Of his motion
said that excepting 8 narrow idea
of her territory Ireland was seldom
quieter than now. The existing evils would
legislation and whatever remedies had been
proposed for those evils would be materially
weakened. The cause of the ombining of
the people of Ireland in the plan of campaign
had been declared by the royal commission
to be their absolute inability to paw the ex-
travagant rents demanded by the landlords.
Some land agents had undertaken to coerce
tenants into purchasing their holdings under
the provisions of the Ashbourne act threaten
ing them with eviction if they did not consent,
yet the government demanded urgency upon
a bill empowering such men to enforce the
payment of unreasonable rent or the pur-
chase of the land at an outrageously unrea-
sonable price. Behind the bill, said Mr..
Morley, was the proposal that the British
government would be security if the de-
mands of the landlords were not satisfied
thus offering premium upon i'll -treatment.
Remedial legislation which could destroy the
seeds and roots of discomfort would be the
wisest policy that could be pursued. When
the coercion bill was passed in 1881 evictions
and outrages increased tenfold, and with the
experience before them the course of the gov
eminent in resorting to coercion at the pres
ent time would be unjusti6able.
Mr.. A. J. Balfour, chief secretary for Ire
land, said that in 1881 Mr.. Gladstone told
the House that it should consider not only
the amount, but the character of crime in
Ireland, This bill was introduced because
the present current of crime was directed
toward the subversion of the laws. The con-
version Of the Liberal party to home rule
was nothing short of a confession that their
land legislation had been a failure, but
the new bill would make smoother
the working of the act of 1881
and give equitable relief to tenants.
When the opposition was prepared to receive
it, the government would introduce a bill
dealing with land purchase, meanwhile the
IL u,c y,ouof bo opForoa1